Turn guiding apparatus for webs



Sept. 15, 1959 FIFE TURN GUIDING APPARATUS FOR WEBS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1957 INVENTOR. [mm L. Fife ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1959 j, L, FIFE 2,904,333

'rumi GUIDING APPARATUS FOR WEBS Filed March 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Irm'n L. FIT:

ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1959 1. L. FIFE 2,904,333

TURN GUIDING APPARATUS FOR WEBS Filed March 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Sept. 15, 1959 I. L. FIFE 2,904,333

TURN GUIDING APPARATUS FOR WEBS Filed March 18, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

G ATTORNEY TURN GUIDING APPARATUS-FOR WEBS Irwin L. Fife, klahoma City, ()kla. Application March 18, 1957,-Serial'No. 646,874

6 Claims. (Cl. 271--'2.'6)

This invention relates to improvements in control apparatus for traveling webs or ribbons of sheet material such as paper, cloth and the like, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a cambering roller device for equalizing the tension of the web during a changein travel direction thereof. This invention is an improvement over applicants co-pending application Serial No. 526,619, filed August 5, 1955, now Patent No. 2,797,091, for Web Shifting Apparatus.

Many machines are in use today for the guiding of a traveling web of material which is drawn from a roll and directed through a printing machine, or other process mechanisms and re-rolled. .T he web must usually travel a considerable distance during the processing thereof, and normally the direction of the web travel is changed at least one or more times during the operation. The tension in the web is of considerable importance in reducing-the lateral shifting of the web throughout the length of its travel. It is particularly difficult to equalize the tension across the web ,at positions wherein the direction of travel of the web is changed, such as from a ;horizontal travel to a vertical path, and vice versa. The usual practice is to pass the traveling web over a roller member for changing the direction and maintaining .a smooth web substantially free of wrinkles. These rollers are normally secured or mounted parallel to the path .of the web travel. It will be apparent, however, that any swiveling of the roller, or deviation of the roller during the turn, or change of direction, such as a cambering action for maintaining proper web travel, as is disclosed "in 'applicants co-pending application mentioned supra, tends to increase the tension on one edge portion of the web wrap and simultaneously reduce the tension on the opposite edge portion thereof. This increase in tension differential across the web makes it difiicult to maintain proper alignment for the web duringa turn or change 'of direction of the web, and often causes an inefficient lateral shifting thereof for proper web travel.

The present invention contemplates utilizing acambering'roller member for simultaneously maintainin Qrrect alignment of the web during its travel as well as effecting a change of web direction in a manner to substantially eliminate any altering of the tension across the web wrap adjacent the roller member. The novel apparatus ,is :preferably disposed with the axis of the cambering roller perpendicular to the direction of the web travel during a turn. The mounting or support member for ,the .cam- 'bering roller, however, is disposed at an angle with respect to the path of the traveling web.

It is an important object of this inventionto provide a cambering roller for facilitating the changing of travel direction of a web or material in a. manner whereby the tension across the web will not be substantially altered at either side edge of the traveling web.

It is another object of this invention :to provide a cambering roller for directing aweb traveling thereover during a turn thereof in a manner wherebythetension [at the side edges of the web 'willnot be materiallyvaried.

Patent And still another object of this invention is to provide for disposition of a cambering roller member to eifect a turn of a traveling web in a manner to maintain an eflicient operation of the cambcring roller without any substantial variance in the tension at the side edges'of the web during the turn operation.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a mounting for a roller. for any angle of turn of a traveling web that will permit a consistency of wrap across the roller during the turning of the web thereon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cambering roller member which is economical and durable in construction and eflicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willfl be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which .illustrate my invention. i

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the disposition of the cambering roller effecting a change of directional movement of a Web through a ninety degree turn.

Figure 2 is an end view of the cam'bering roller and base support illustrating a method of determining the disposition angle of the base support for the web."

Figure 3 is a plan view of the traveling web shown directed through a turn operation as shown in Fig. l.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 depicting an inverted type of installation from that shown in Fig. 1'.

Figure 5 is a side view depicting a cambering roller installation for directing the movement of a traveling web in a one hundred eighty degree turn.

Figure 6 is a side view showing a straight directional movement of the traveling web utilizing two cambering rollers without a change of direction;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view with certain parts omitted of a traveling web showing a typical installation through a variation of turns and depicting a disposition of the cambering roller assembly for maintaining proper alignment of the web.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly Figs. 1 and 3, reference character 1 indicates a traveling web which may be moving from any suitablennwind roller 2 of a press or other similar web actuating apparatus, such as that shown in Fig. 7, and then directed past one or more guide rolls 3 for guiding in different directions, and particularly such as a ninety degree turn such as at position 4 in Fig. 7. In order to properly guide the web and maintain accurate alignment at various crucial points during such lengthy web travel as has been previously set forth in applicant s co-pending application above referred-to, particularly at positions where there is a turn at one of a number .of v arious .an gles, a cambering roller 5 is supported underneath the web over which the web passes in a manner to provide wrap therebetween. i

As clearly shown in .Fig. 7, .the crucial point .may be substantially remote from the unwind roll ,2, and the web 1 may pass over a plurality of guide rolls 3 prior to need for any correction orxa-lignment. Figure'7 isza'n exemplificaticn of a long travel of a 'web :fromxthe unwind roll 2 which may becoming from :an oven or the like for ;re-wind on :the wind-up roll 6' of any suitable ztype .of machine for operating .onaa web, such as a printing press, bag making machine, wrapping machines, slitting and winding machines of all types, or' in any apparatus where it is necessary-to properly and accurately guide any type of web material'for anaccurate operationthereof.

The mounting of )the cambering roll 5 at the position of-"turn is the essential feature of the present invention and as shown in Fig. 1, the mount-ingsupport member-7 may be a support stand at each side of the web, or any other suitable support member having an angld portidn 15 for each base is a beam or -be varied as set forth 2,197,091.

-It will be apparent as'shown in Fig. 3 that there are two support stands 7 disposed at opposite-sides of the machine 11 upon which are supported the base members 9 and 9a for supporting the cambering roller .5 transversely across the web1 in a position so that the web will wrap therearound, and as depicted in Fig. 1 for changing web direction ninety degrees.

The actuating mechanism 10 for the cambering roller .5 is substantially that disclosed in applicants co-pending application heretofore set forth and comprises the oppositely disposed base members 9 and 9a each having a plurality of spaced upstanding ears 12 either apertured or recessed in horizontal alignment for receiving the op- ,posite ends of stationary guide rods 14 and 15 for each of the base members.

The stationary rods are spaced shown. Slidably mounted on the rods 14 and follower member 16 which is provided with spaced apertures for receiving the guide rods 14 and 15. Each of the followers 16 support a perapart as pendicularly disposed spindle 18 for receiving a movable bearing member 20 supporting the cambering roller in a manner substantially as set forth in applicants aforementioned co-pending application. It will thus be seen that a bearing 20 may pivot about a respective spindle 18 at the same time that a follower 16 is moving along the two guide rods 14 and 15 for each unit supported by the base members 9 and 9a. The follower 16 on the base plate 9 is provided with a centrally located recess into which extends a shaft 22 and secured therein in any suitable manner.

The shaft 22 extends outwardly from the member 16 through an apertured bearing 24 in the end plate 26 of the base member 9 and cooperates at its outer extremity with a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 28 adapted to move the shaft 22 in a reciprocal direction according to movement of the hydraulically actuated piston (not shown) within the unit 28. The operation of the hydraulic unit 28 may be from any suitable type of hydraulic power unit 30 (shown schematically) connected with the unit 28 by suitable tubings 31 and 32. The 1 'power unit in turnis controlled by the feeler member 34 disposed adjacent or along side an edge of the web 1 and is connected or communicated through connector 35 with the hydraulic power unit 30 in any suitable manner to provide variable actuation thereof, which in turn provides variable directions of movement for the piston unit 28 and shaft 22, depending upon the misalignment of the web 1 as is sensed by the feeler member 34. It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the above disclosed sensing and actuating mechanism for moving the follower 16 on the base 9 to provide for transverse movement of the roller 5 across the web 1 and any suitable type of actuating mechanism and sensitive unit may be utilized as is desired.

Operation Movement of the shaft 22 in one direction or the other by the hydraulic unit 28 will move the oppositely disposed follower members 16 on base 9a along the guide bars 14 and 15 in the direction of shaft movement. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 3, the base members 9 and 9a are secured upon the angled portion 8 of their respective support member 7 by any suitable means, such as a stud bolt or the like (not shown), and the angle of repose of the base members 9 and 9a is selective relative to the longitudinal direction or movement of the traveling web 1. It is preferable that the base units 9 and 9a be disposed upon the angled face 8 of their respective support members 7 at a predetermined and equal obtuse angle with relation to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 36 supporting the cambering roller 5. However, this angle may in the aforementioned Patent Movement of the followers 16 by the shaft 22 will move the roller 5 transversely and the web with a simultaneous free pivoting movement of the bearing 20 about the spindle 18 to provide for a swiveling or canting action of the roller 5 and with the tension or wrap thereof with the web 1 moves the web to effect an alignment of the web for accurate longitudinal travel. This simultaneous shifting of the roller 5 and canting or swiveling action therefor functions to more quickly and accurately correct or alter any misalignment of web travel than is accomplished by an axial movement of the shaft 36 alone supporting the roller 5. It will be apparent that the roller 5 extends beyond the opposite sides of the web and is a cambering roller that actually cambers the moving web into a correct position automatically by its lateral movement simultaneous with a slight swiveling or canting movement which counteracts any inclination of the mov ing web to be distorted into a misalignment from the normal path of travel.

It has been found where a cambering roller is utilized for correcting misalignment of web travel particularly during a change of direction or turning of the web, and wherein the supporting base member for the cambering roller is mounted parallel with the plane of the web travel, that any cambering or swiveling of the roller will increase the tension of one side of the web and decrease it on the opposite side thereof depending upon the direction of the swiveling or cambering action, particularly on the outgoing side of the traveling web, thereby providing a tight side and an opposite loose side which is obviously detrimental to efiicient web travel. However, the mounting of the base members 9 and 9a at an angle to the plane of the web travel such as shown at 8 in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7, the increase or decrease of the tension at opposite sides of the traveling web is substantially eliminated, particularly where the roller is supported in a plane perpendicular to the bisector of the angle between the plane of one web approaching the roller and the plane of the web leaving the roller.

In the proper mounting of a single cambering roller unit for any degree of web turn from thirty to one hundred eighty degrees, the angular disposition of the front face 8 of the member 7 for supporting the base members 9 and 9a can be determined by two methods. The angularity of the front face 8 is disposed parallel to an imaginary line 38 drawn tangent to the center of the wrap of the web 1 around the cambering roller 5, and such disposition of the angular face 8 is correct for maintaining a base member thereon. Furthermore, in order to provide equal tension and proper angular disposition of the supporting face 8, the angle of web wrap between the incoming side of the web 1 and the outgoing side thereof should be equal. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2, the angle X on the incoming side of the web 1 is equal to the angle Y on the outgoing side of the web 1 as is depicted by a line 40 drawn at ninety degrees to the mounting plane of the bases 9 or 9a for mounting on the angularly disposed front face 8.

As is shown in Fig. 4, the angular face 8 of the mounting support 7 is depicted at a forty-five degree angle similar to that in Figs. 1 and 3. However, in Fig. 4, the cambering roller 5 is disposed in an inverted position for a different turn direction of the web 1. In Fig. 5 there is disclosed mounting of the bases 9 or 9a on the support 7 and face 8 for a one hundred eighty degree turn of the web 1. It will be apparent that the face 8 is in a horizontal plane for the complete turn of the web 1 two cambering rollers and 5a in a horizontal or vertical plane, it is only necessary to utilize one cambering roller 5 such as is depicted in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and the angle of turn may be variable depending upon the web material and its adherence to web wrap as has been previously set forth. Tacky material can be guided with very small web wrap due to the frictional contact of the material with the roller 5. However, many materials such as paper and cellophane with less frictional contact and usually traveling at a higher rate of speed, usually need more wrap with the cambering roller to provide an elficient change in direction thereof.

The sensing orfeeler member is preferably disposed along one edge of the traveling web 1 on the outgoing side thereof as is disclosed in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. Any suitable type of dead bar is usually disposed in proximity of the feeler member in order to maintain the traveling web in a substantially straight plane in order 'that the sensing member 34 may quickly and efficiently determine any slight misalignment of the web that could occur due to the change of direction thereof. It will be apparent that the distance between a guide roller 3 on the incoming side of the web and the cambering roller 5 varies with the type of material being guided and the maximum amount of error that needs to be corrected. However, it is preferable to maintain a minimum distance of not more than two web widths between these two elements. Furthermore, it is preferable to dispose the sensing member 34- substantially mid-way between the cambering roller 5 and the guide roller 3 on the outgoing side of the traveling web, with the dead bar 42 preferable located between the sensing member and the cambering roller 5 as shown (Fig. 1).

The power unit 30 depicted in Fig. 3 for supplying hydraulic power to the unit 28 may be any suitable type of hydraulic power unit, such as a pump having a suitable prime mover and hydraulic fluid connections (not shown). Furthermore, the connecting means 35 with the feeler 34 is shown broken in Fig. 3 and may be any suitable means capable of communicating the reaction of the feeler member 34 to travel variations of the Web 1. The feeler member 34 may be a fluid actuated orifice member or any of the various mechanical or electrical apparatus for such purpose.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention contemplates a web guiding apparatus providing for accurate alignment of a web during a turn, or change of direction of a traveling web of materials, such as cloth, paper, plastics, and the like, wherein a cambering roller is disposed in a manner to permit an accurate turning or change in direction of the web without any substantial increase of tension at either side of the web during the turn movement. The invention is particularly adapted for accurate guiding of a web through a plurality of turns, or direction changes where the web travels considerable distances from an unwind roll or the like, but not limited thereto. The support members of the cambering roller are at the point of the direction change and are mounted at an angle so as to place the substantial center of the wrap of the web on the cambering roller substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the supporting base member for the roller. It will be apparent that the cambering roller actually cambers the moving web into a correct position automatically by a combined lateral and swiveling movement of the roller, thus overcoming the detrimental tendency of traveling webs to get out of alignment during a turning operation or change of direction thereof. To preclude any variance in tension at either side of the traveling web during a direction change, the disposition of the supporting base for the cambering roller is such to substantially eliminate variations in tension, thereby providing an efiicient change of direction of the web. Variable types of web guiding jobs may be accomplished by the cambering roller and variable angles of turn, or direction change may be made 6 without any substantial misalignmentofthe traveling web whatsoever.

Changes may bemade in the combination and arrangement of parts ,asheretofore set forth in the specification and shown inthe drawings, it being understood that any modificationin the precise embodiment of the invention may be madewit'hin the scope of the following claims without "departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Ina self-compensating mechanism for straightening traveling webs during an angular turn of the web comprising in combination a cambering roller over which'the webtravels: and about'which it is wrapped to provide friction engagement therewith, said rollerextending transversely to the direction of web travel, meanssupporting the roller for combined lateral shifting and swiveling movement in a plane perpendicular to the bisector of the angle between the plane of the web approaching the roller and the plane of the web leaving the roller to preclude any substantial variation in the wrap of the web with the roller during the turning movement.

2. The method of maintaining accurate alignment of a traveling web during a turn thereof which consists of engaging the traveling web with a rotatably mounted cambering roller supported generally transversely to the web, effecting a combined lateral shifting and swiveling of the roller in a plane perpendicular to the bisector of the angle between the plane of the web approaching the roller and the plane of the web leaving the roller to preclude any substantial variation of the tension of the web against the roller during the turning movement thereof.

3. The method of maintaining alignment of a traveling web during a turning movement thereof which consists of engaging the traveling web at the position of turning with a rotatably mounted cambering roller supported transversely to the web, effecting a combined lateral shifting and swiveling of the roller in response to any misalignment of web travel during the turning movement thereof, supporting the cambering roller for movement in a plane perpendicular to the bisector of the angle between the plane of the Web approaching the roller and the plane of the web leaving the roller to preclude any substantial variation of the tension of the web against the roller during the turning movement thereof.

4. In a self-compensating mechanism for maintaining Web alignment of a traveling web during a change of direction of the web travel comprising in combination a cambering roller over which the web travels in a manner to provide a wrap therebetween, said roller extending transversely to the direction of web travel, means for supporting the roller generally and responsive to any misalignment of the web for shifting the roller in a combined lateral shifting and swiveling movement for correcting the misalignment, means supporting the shifting means to provide for movement of the roller in a plane perpendicular to the bisector of the angle between the plane of the Web approaching the roller and the plane of the web leaving the roller to maintain a consistency of wrap transversely of the web during the cambering action thereof.

5. In an automatic web shifting apparatus for a traveling web adapted to compensate for misalignments of web travel during a change of direction of the web travel comprising in combination a transversely extending cambering roller over which the web travels in a manner to provide a wrap therebetween, means for supporting the roller generally and responsive to any misalignment of the web for shifting the roller in a combined lateral shifting and swiveling movement providing a cambering action of the roller to effect a correction of the misalignment, support means for the shifting means provided at the sides of the traveling web adjacent the position of the change of direction, said support means having an angled face provided thereon for supporting the shifting means and the cambering roller, said angled face disposed in a plane perpendicular to the bisector of the angle between the plane of theweb approaching the roller and the plane of the web leaving the roller.

6. In an automatic web shifting apparatus for a traveling web adapted to compensate for misalignments of web travel during a change of direction of the web travel comprising in combination a transversely extending cambering roller over which the web travels in a manner to provide a wrap therebetween, means for supporting the roller and responsive to any misalignment of the web for actuating the roller in a combined lateral shifting and swiveling movement providing a cambering action of the roller to efiect a correction of the misalignment, support means provided at the sides of the traveling web adjacent the position of the change of direction, said support means having an angled face provided thereon for supporting 15 0 2,779,591

the actuating means and the cambering roller, said angled face disposed in a planeparallel to an imaginary line extending tangent to the center point of the web wrap with the roller in order to maintain aconsistency of the wrap transversely of the roller during the change of direction of the web travel. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,066,307 Horton Dec. 29, 1936 2,387,036 Morse Oct. 16, 1945 2,590,699 Heyer Mar. 25, 1952 2,722,415 Wood Nov. 1, 1955 Huck Jan. 29, 1957 was --r 

